7. Rocky coast of the northeast North Island
Map ID Number: 7
Location: Reefs to about 30–50m deep around rocky headlands and offshore islands from North Cape to East Cape
Approximate area: 1,178km2
Description of area:
Principally hard greywacke outcrops or softer mudstones, but outcrops of volcanic origin in some places, especially offshore islands. Limestone outcrops at Langs Beach near Waipu.
Biological attributes:
This coastal area of the North Island has a high diversity of suspension-feeding molluscs and a reasonably high diversity of tunicates. There is an abundance of shallowwater brachiopods. Occasionally, incursions of tropical and subtropical species are found here, at the southern limit of their range. The offshore islands are stepping stones for natural introductions of new warm water species. The islands are surrounded by deep reefs and have a high diversity of suspension-feeding rock wall invertebrates.
Criteria applied:
Species diversity; species richness; extremities of range and adaptation to environment.
Status and management:
Most species are not exploited or threatened. Some areas are protected within marine reserves at Poor Knights Islands, Cape Rodney Okakari Point (Leigh), Tuhua (Mayor Island), and Tawharanui Marine Park.
State of information:
Variable.
References and further reading:
Ayling and Babcock (2003), Ayling and Schiel (2003), Ballantine et al. (1973), Ballantine and Gordon (1979), Battershill and Stocker (1993), Gordon and Ballantine (1977), Grange (1986), Grange et al. (1992), Nelson and Adams (1987), Smith and Gordon (2003). Large number of unpublished theses held by the University of Auckland and unpublished DoC reports.